Visiting a theme park might not be at the top of your list for February half term, in fact it’s probably not on your list at all.

But a new offering at Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, will change your mind on that.

Forget standing in queues for whiteknuckle rides – this half term it’s a pirate and princesses takeover across the huge resort’s quirky venues (and it’s all nice and warm too).

The stars of the 'High Seas and Hijinks' show

There’s a full entertainment schedule on offer, with something for all ages and a choice of staying in a log cabin in the Enchanted Village, a room in the Alton Towers Hotel, or at the toddler-friendly CBeebies Hotel.

With our 18-month-old and six-year-old, we thought a stay in the Enchanted Village best for us. It’s perfect for young families, with each cabin featuring a separate sleeping area for the children decorated like a magical forest. A short walk from the cabins is the Crooked Spoon, a pub-style eatery where you can get all three meals of the day.

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On arrival, we went straight into the main hotel’s State Room for a 90-minute ‘High Seas and Hijinks’ pirate show. With plenty of opportunity for participation, singing and dancing, both our children were transfixed.

You can stay at the Alton Towers Hotel

After that it was time for our evening meal, and we opted for the Rollercoaster Restaurant.

This place is truly unforgettable and for kids it should be on your ‘must visit’ list. Food is ordered via tablet and zooms down to you on one of several rollercoasters across the room, all connected to each table. Our six-year-old took charge of the table’s carousel, delivering food to everyone when it arrived. If only he was so helpful at home…

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The action didn’t stop after dinner though and we headed over to a brightly-lit tipi for a night of pirate and princess-themed action. Inside the tent, which was decorated with fairy lights and leaves, cheery hosts made it a night to remember for kids of all ages. First up was a disco, then a treasure hunt and…then we ran out of energy and headed back to our cosy cabin.

Evening entertainment takes place in the Enchanted Tipi

The next day, after breakfast in the Crooked Spoon, we headed over to the resort’s waterpark, a visit to which is also included in the price of the half-term deal.

Everything you could want is here – from the thrilling Master Blaster flume ride, to an outdoor heated Jacuzzi and a lovely warm area for toddlers.

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You could easily spend all day in the water park – but no – we still had to squeeze in a trip to the Sharkbait Reef by SeaLife aquarium before leaving, so we headed across the resort for a relaxing end to our busy trip.

If you’re thinking of booking for half term, head over to the Alton Towers website for more information and prices.